São Tomé and Príncipe made history by becoming the first sovereign state in the world to have its entire territory, both terrestrial and marine, recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve. The announcement was made by UNESCO at the 5th World Congress on Biosphere Reserves, held in Hangzhou, China, which also included 26 new reserves in 21 countries.

Until then, only Príncipe Island and its neighboring islets held this status, granted in 2012. With this decision, marine areas, forested areas, agricultural regions, volcanic peaks, and isolated islets became part of an integrated system of protection and sustainable management.

The island of São Tomé, with approximately 859 km², and Príncipe, with 142 km², are now part of a territorial logic that transcends local borders. Approximately 130 inhabitants residing in the covered areas depend on agriculture, fishing, and ecotourism, activities that, with this status, gain new relevance and require conscious practices.

In addition to São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola and Equatorial Guinea have also been added to the UNESCO list for the first time, a sign that African ecosystems are gaining greater prominence in global conservation agendas.

The Príncipe Island Biosphere Reserve, created on July 11, 2012, already encompassed the entire land area of ​​the island with an area of ​​142 km² and an estimated population, in 2012, of 8,000 inhabitants.

It also includes its islets, such as Bom Bom, Boné do Jóquei, and Pedras Tinhosas, located approximately 20 km southwest of Príncipe Island. The reserve also includes the entire marine and coastal area surrounding the island and the Tinhosas Islands, totaling 71.592,5 hectares.

With dense vegetation and a humid tropical climate, average annual temperatures vary between 21,3°C and 29.3°C. The island is very rugged, reaching 948 meters at Pico do Príncipe, located in the south of the island and part of the Ôbo Natural Park.

Dating back 31 million years, the island boasts a dense tropical rainforest with a wide diversity of plant and animal species, both marine and terrestrial. These species are crucial for the conservation of biological diversity globally.

One of the most important characteristics of Príncipe Island is the balanced coexistence between its population and its ecological diversity, in line with the principles of sustainability. Príncipe Island's main economic activities are agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

This territory is characterized by high biodiversity, rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and high rates of endemism in vascular plants, mollusks, birds, reptiles, and bats. The reserve's marine area encompasses coral reefs, sea turtle breeding grounds, and sensitive coastal habitats.

The island of São Tomé

With the extension of the classification to São Tomé, tropical forest areas, volcanic plateaus, agricultural areas, and coastal areas were now included. The volcanic island, surrounded by the Atlantic, has a hot and humid equatorial climate, with rivers originating in Amélia Lagoon.

The main ecosystems include savannas (525 ha), mangroves (230 ha), forested areas (19.922 ha), and agricultural areas (4.458 ha). The landscape includes beaches such as Conchas and Lagoa Azul, waterfalls such as São Nicolau, the Malanza mangrove, and the Obô Natural Park.

The volcanic hills, formed by ancient chimneys of solidified lava, complete the landscape. The flora includes approximately 1.200 species, 900 of which are native, confirming a high rate of endemism. The archipelago is nicknamed "Galapagos of Africa”, counting in terms of fauna, with 20 species and 8 endemic subspecies among the 50 terrestrial residents.

The birdlife is remarkable, including the wood snipe, the angeló, and the shrike—all endangered—as well as several threatened or vulnerable species. Among mammals, there are two endemic species, a bat subspecies, a shrew, and the likely introduced mona monkey. Reptiles include 21 species, 17 of which are endemic, and eight are exclusive amphibians.

Biodiversity also extends to mollusks, crustaceans, cetaceans, and corals. Sea turtles are one of the reserve's greatest treasures, nesting on the beaches: hawksbill, green, olive ridley, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles. Rolas Islet, straddling the equator, is a key location for seabirds, as are the islets of Sete Pedras, Santana, and São Miguel.

The classification guarantees increased protection for this dual ecosystem, reconciling human activities and conservation. São Tomé thus proves to be one of the most valuable natural heritage sites in the Gulf of Guinea, with global significance. At the same time, it preserves a diverse cultural heritage, shaped by historical influences.

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The lives of local communities are deeply intertwined with natural resources. Approximately 130 inhabitants live in the covered areas, relying on agriculture, artisanal fishing, and the trade of local products such as cocoa.

Internationally renowned organic cocoa from São Tomé is a symbol of agricultural sustainability with the potential to generate added value within the context of the biosphere.

Reserve status offers opportunities to consolidate regenerative agricultural practices, promote quality eco-tourism, improve sustainable infrastructure, and create jobs in rural areas without compromising the environment.

At the same time, it requires the government to invest in community strengthening programs, environmental surveillance, and institutional partnerships with private entities that guarantee financial and technical resources.

The President of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, expressed deep emotion and gratitude for UNESCO's international recognition, stating:

"Congratulations to all São Toméans. This is further proof that when we want something, we can do it.".

UNESCO's recognition also implies the need to consolidate conservation policies, strengthen monitoring, promote environmental education, and ensure that local communities—historically closely linked to the land and sea—assume a greater role in the sustainable management of their resources.

The Minister of Economy and Finance of São Tomé and Príncipe, Gareth Guadalupe, also spoke about the appointment, saying:

“This is a milestone that fills us with pride, but above all, it calls us to greater responsibility”.

The regional government of Príncipe also reaffirmed its full willingness to jointly manage the areas and ensure integration between Príncipe and São Tomé. This model of integrating conservation and development represents a challenge, but also an example for other African nations seeking to reconcile ecological preservation with human progress.

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Despite this achievement, the new status brings with it concrete vulnerabilities and challenges. Sea level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events pose real threats to fragile islands like São Tomé and Príncipe.

The President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, warned that the archipelago as a whole once had a size of 1.001 km², but today, it has been reduced to 960 km², as around 4% has been “swallowed up” due to rising sea levels.

This phenomenon requires urgent action to adapt to climate change, strengthen coastal infrastructure, restore coastal ecosystems, and raise community awareness. Without adequate resources, these measures may remain mere rhetoric and fail to materialize.

Furthermore, environmental legislation must be strengthened, as well as effective enforcement and management of land-use conflicts between agriculture, tourism, and conservation, which must be well managed. Human use zones and the reserve's core zone must clearly delimit permitted uses and impact limits.

The biosphere management model requires mechanisms for community participation, transparency, and ongoing funding. Without this, there is a risk that the classification will become merely symbolic, with no practical impact on the planet. International cooperation will also be essential to support monitoring, research, and institutional strengthening projects.

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The newly created São Tomé and Príncipe Biosphere Reserve reinforces the presence of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) on the world conservation map.

The CPLP Biosphere Reserve Network, established under the auspices of UNESCO's MaB Program, today constitutes a strategic instrument for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and affirmation of the Portuguese-speaking world around sustainability. In total, this network includes twenty-four UNESCO-recognized reserves, covering approximately 211 million hectares and involving more than 104 million people.

Each of these reserves functions as a living laboratory, reconciling biodiversity preservation with the economic and social development of communities. In Brazil, six continental-sized reserves were designated between 1991 and 2005, covering almost a quarter of the country's territory, and are global benchmarks in conservation.

In Cape Verde, the inclusion of the islands of Fogo and Maio in 2020 represented a milestone for the protection of Atlantic island ecosystems. In Guinea-Bissau, the Bolama Bijagós Archipelago, with its 88 islands and islets, spans over one million hectares and is recognized for its ecological and cultural richness.

In Mozambique, the Quirimbas Biosphere Reserve in Cabo Delgado includes mangroves, coral reefs and ocean habitats that directly support more than two hundred thousand people.

These reserves operate in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing critical issues such as climate change adaptation, coastal and marine management, environmental surveillance, and the balance between economic exploitation and conservation.

The network, however, faces common challenges, including pressure from tourism, deforestation, and overfishing. Even so, the full integration of São Tomé and Príncipe reinforces the CPLP's relevance as a bloc capable of articulating nature, culture, and development within a common future horizon.